This study plans to learn more about preventing pain in children who are having posterior spinal fusion surgery using two different kinds of morphine (a pain medicine). Also, this study plans to learn about individual differences in the how the different kinds of morphine work in children.

Subjects are being asked to be in this research study because they are having spinal fusion surgery, will have pain some of the time and will be getting morphine during and after surgery to help control their pain.

Objective data to analyze the primary outcomes of Time to first post-operative opioid-analgesic administration and Total opioid requirements during the first 48 hours after surgery [ Time Frame: 60 hours ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

DepoDur™ is a preparation of extended release lipid encapsulated morphine and is used specifically for epidural injection, outside the spinal fluid, for postoperative pain. This study is a prospective randomized double-blinded trial examining the effectiveness of single dose intrathecal morphine versus single dose extended release epidural morphine for postoperative pain control in pediatric posterior spinal fusion patients.

Detailed Description:

Up to 80 people from Denver will participate in the study. Subjects will be randomized to receive one of two possible medications during surgery to help with pain after surgery. After they go to sleep for surgery the anesthesiologist will give them either (1) a single injection of morphine into the spinal fluid in the lower back, or (2) a single injection of extended-release morphine into the epidural space (just outside the spinal fluid) in the lower back.

The usual care for patients having this surgery is a single injection of morphine into the spinal fluid in the lower back. If randomized to group (1), subjects will receive the usual care for pain control. If subjects are randomized to group (2), they will receive a single injection of extended-release morphine into the epidural space.

During surgery, a small blood sample (1 teaspoon or less) will be collected to analyze specific DNA sequences that are involved in individual responses to morphine for pain control. The blood sample will be destroyed after 24 months.

After surgery, subjects will have IV pain medication through a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) machine. Subjects will be shown how to work the PCA so they can get the pain medicine when they need it. A research nurse will check in frequently to ask how much pain is occurring following the surgery and any side effects that may arise from the study medicine.

A contraindication to dural puncture, such as raised intracranial pressure.

Pre-operative heparin, oral aspirin or anticoagulants.

Weight less than 20kg or greater than 100kg.

Need for Intraoperative ketamine administration.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00880607